Utilization of green algae Caulerpa racemosa as feed ingredient for tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon

ABSTRACT The study aimed to evaluate the utilization of seaweed Caulerpa racemosa as feed ingredient for tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon. This research consisted of two different stages, i.e. digestibility and growth test. Tiger shrimp with average body weight of 5.70 ± 0.42 g was reared during digestibility test. The measured parameters were total protein, calsium, magnesium, and energy digestibility. The growth test was managed by using a completely randomized design consisted of four different treatments (in triplicates) of dietary C. racemosa meal addition levels, i.e. 0 (control), 10, 20, and 30%. Tiger shrimp with an average body weight of 0.36 ± 0.02 g were cultured for 42 days in plastic containers (70×45×40 cm) with a stocking density of 15 shrimp/container. Apparent dry matter, protein, calcium, magnesium, and energy digestibilities of C. racemosa were 51.82, 88.67, 68.44, 16.39, 60.30%, respectively. The results presented that the growth performance of tiger shrimp fed with diet containing 10% of C. racemosa was not significantly different with the control (P>0.05). However, the growth performance of the shrimp fed with diet containing more than 20% of C. racemosa decreased. The enzyme activitity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased with the higher level of dietary addition of C. racemosa. It can be concluded that C. racemosa was possibly applied up to 10% in the feed formulation for tiger shrimp. Keywords: Caulerpa racemosa, Penaeus monodon, digestibility, growth performance, shrimp  ABSTRAK Penelitian ini bertujuan mengevaluasi pemanfaatan rumput laut Caulerpa racemosa sebagai bahan baku pakan udang windu Penaeus monodon. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan dua tahap, yaitu uji kecernaan C. racemosa dan uji pertumbuhan udang. Udang windu yang digunakan pada uji kecernaan berbobot 5,70 ± 0,42 g. Parameter uji yang diukur meliputi kecernaan total, protein, kalsium, magnesium, dan energi. Uji pertumbuhan dilakukan menggunakan rancangan acak lengkap dengan empat perlakuan dan tiga ulangan, yaitu penggunaan tepung C. racemosa sebesar 0 (kontrol), 10, 20, dan 30%. Udang windu dengan bobot 0,36 ± 0,02 g dipelihara dalam wadah kontainer plastik ukuran 70×45×40 cm (volume air sebanyak 90 L) dengan kepadatan 15 ekor tiap wadah selama 42 hari. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan kecernaan total C. racemosa pada udang windu 51,82%, kecernaan protein 88,67%, kecernaan kalsium 68,44%, kecernaan magnesium 16,39%, dan kecernaan energi 60,30%. Penelitian tahap kedua pada kinerja pertumbuhan udang yang mengonsumsi pakan mengandung 10% C. racemosa, tidak memberikan nilai yang berbeda nyata dengan udang yang mengonsumsi pakan kontrol. Namun, kinerja pertumbuhan udang menurun setelah mengonsumsi pakan yang mengandung C. racemosa di atas 20%, sedangkan aktivitas enzim superoxide dismutase (SOD) meningkat. Dari penelitian ini dapat disimpulkan bahwa penambahan C. racemosa ke dalam formula pakan sampai 10% dapat digunakan sebagai bahan baku pakan udang windu. Kata kunci: Caulerpa racemosa, Penaeus monodon, kecernaan, kinerja pertumbuhan, udang